The Internet is a valuable tool in assisting students and teachers in terms of research, and it is one of the most common technological advancements that classrooms use to broaden their learning curriculum and sources. Materials that might not be available in traditional libraries can be found via the Internet, although one of the top concerns relates to the quality of information available online since some information may be biased or inaccurate. Students should always make sure to document their online sources and be stringent in reviewing researched materials. Others concerns include plagiarism, cheating on exams, and online distractions, such as games.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a public law in the U.S. that mandates the development of Individualized Education Programs (IEP's) for students with disabilities. The idea behind this act is to ensure that through the use of technology, students with disabilities will receive the same quality of learning as other students. It prescribes organization, note-taking, writing, academic productivity, access, and cognitive assistance as areas for development in helping students with disabilities to study. Various technologies have been developed to further this agenda, including webcams, voice synthesizers, laptops, and e-books, each of which give disabled students access to classroom discussions, research materials, and group discussions.
Various PC games are praised by educators as very useful tools in teaching students, helping to make learning more entertaining and engaging. Example include such games as Civilization or Age of Empires.
The Civilization game series allows players to control civilizations throughout history, such as the Romans, Mongols, Aztecs, or several others. The player's responsibilities include focusing on his country's diplomacy and societal developments. Students are free to make their own choices and access various historical technologies to improve their civilization. Games such as these focus on history, geography, and even critical thinking.
With the advent of the Internet, virtual classrooms now dominate much of the educational atmosphere. The idea of the virtual classroom can be traced back to 1963 when Popular Mechanics introduced the "teacherless" classroom. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) collaborated with various universities around the world to post courses online for free. Peer-to-peer teaching is now also available online where students can trade questions and answers through open forums. With audio and video, classes can even be held halfway around the world from a remote location, with very few losses with regard to quality.